“Coming across the country, playing on a Monday night, we’re on a short week, we’ve got to go to Vegas next week,” Allen said to the press once the game concluded.

Now, the warning is for the Raiders: “We’re staying here. Trusting our guys to be pros and do the right thing. We’re here to win this week and next week, and we’ve got to get past this one on a short week and find a way to win.”

After defeating the Rams, the Bills improved to 4-1 and took the lead in the AFC East. Can they keep their winning streak alive when they visit Allegiant Stadium next weekend?

A Hollywood ending in Los Angeles

The Bills clinched a memorable 37-34 overtime victory against the Rams at SoFi Stadium in a thrilling, back-and-forth contest. Allen threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, while also adding 47 rushing yards and a score on the ground. Stafford matched the intensity with 320 passing yards and three touchdowns, leading Los Angeles to score 13 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to force overtime. Ultimately, Buffalo’s defense held firm when it mattered most, allowing the Bills to execute a decisive game-winning drive in sudden death.

Focused on Las Vegas

Following their thrilling victory at SoFi Stadium, the Buffalo Bills will head to Las Vegas to take on the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, October 18, 2026. After a Bye week, they will return home to Highmark Stadium to host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, November 1, 2026. They then hit the road again to face the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on Monday, November 9, 2026.

• Week 6: vs. Las Vegas Raiders — Allegiant Stadium (Oct 18, 2026)
• Week 7: Bye Week
• Week 8: vs. Baltimore Ravens — Highmark Stadium (Nov 1, 2026)
• Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings — U.S. Bank Stadium (Nov 9, 2026)

Key takeaways

• Buffalo defeated the Rams 37-34 in overtime on Monday Night Football.
• Josh Allen warned the Raiders that the Bills are staying on the West Coast.
• Buffalo will face the Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, October 18, 2026.

Purdy is yet to receive a sack this season and that has obviously helped his case, but his prowess alone is also absolutely a reason for the 49ers being one of three unbeaten teams ahead of Week 5.

Now, both Purdy and Allen have a +300 line to become the 2026 NFL Most Valuable Player. Allen is, once again, playing hero ball to get the Bills wins, but Purdy might be playing the best football in his career.

Purdy’s stats throughout the first four weeks of the 2026 NFL season

Purdy has the best passer rating in the NFL with an otherworldly 126.3. Throughout this stretch, Purdy has passed for at least two or more touchdowns in all four of his games.

Purdy is currently riding a three-game streak with no turnovers as well. Pure and elite football level in all facets of the game. Josh Allen has to do so for his team to win, Purdy is just enjoying himself on the field and winning while he’s at it.

Purdy is defying the AFC QBs for MVP

Purdy is the only NFC quarterback in the top 6 favored to win MVP. That speaks volumes of what he is doing for the 49ers. After all, the AFC is known for their elite QBs. This is the top 6:

• Brock Purdy +300
• ⁠Josh Allen +300
• ⁠Patrick Mahomes +600
• ⁠Lamar Jackson +800
• ⁠Trevor Lawrence +1000
• ⁠Joe Burrow +1400

Key takeaways

• Brock Purdy holds +300 MVP odds, tying Josh Allen as co-favorite entering Week 5.
• Purdy leads the league with a 126.3 passer rating and zero sacks taken.
• Brock Purdy stands as the only NFC quarterback among the top six MVP betting candidates.

“I feel good,” Donald said during his press conference. “I feel a lot better than what I was.” Clearly, this is not good news for Allen, as No. 99 looks to regain the form that once made him the best player at his position.

Through the first four weeks, the Bills’ quarterback has been sacked nine times, resulting in a loss of 50 yards. Heading into a crucial matchup against the Rams, those negative numbers could climb even higher.

Donald wants to return to his former glory

Aaron Donald’s return from retirement with the Rams has been a bit of a gradual grind so far in this 2026 NFL season. After sitting out Week 1 while ramping up, he made his season debut in Week 2 and has racked up 4 total tackles (1 solo, 3 assisted) and 1 tackle for loss through two games before missing Week 4 due to back soreness.

While he hasn’t registered a sack yet and is still fighting through minor physical bumps, the 10-time Pro Bowler is working to shake off the rust, get back into game shape, and regain that dominant, game-disrupting form that defined his legendary career.

Stopping Allen will be the key

Stopping Josh Allen is hands-down the ultimate key for the Rams if they want to secure a huge victory on Monday Night Football. Allen has been putting up absolute video-game numbers so far this 2026 season—racking up 1,039 passing yards with 6 passing touchdowns through 4 games, while staying lethal on the ground with 118 rushing yards and 5 rushing touchdowns.

He’s the engine that powers Buffalo’s entire offense, meaning L.A.’s defense will need to generate relentless pressure, keep him contained inside the pocket, and force him into bad decisions; if the Rams can neutralize his dual-threat magic and limit his explosive plays, they’ll be in prime position to steal a massive win.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Donald declared he feels good ahead of the Rams’ matchup against Buffalo.
• Josh Allen has been sacked nine times through the first four weeks.
• Aaron Donald has recorded 4 total tackles through two games played in 2026.

A significant factor was Bills’ head coach, Joe Brady, who secured the first victory of his career. Allen credited the coach for coming up with a game plan that suited the Bills’ offensive skills. “We love chunk plays,” Allen said, per Bills analyst Ajay Cybulski. “That’s how you score 36 points. You give yourself the opportunity to go score in 4 or 5 plays instead of the long, methodical 14, 15 plays.”

The quarterback had a massive day, proving essential in keeping Buffalo ahead as the Texans pushed until the very end. Allen completed 20 of 29 passes for 334 yards. Tight end Dalton Kincaid was his top receiver, catching five passes for 130 yards.

Allen’s late-game heroics and historic stats

The spectacular Allen had the ball in his hands late in the fourth quarter, throwing a go-ahead touchdown pass to Joshua Palmer with less than two minutes to play. Allen then had to wait on the sidelines while the Texans drove back down the field, hoping the Buffalo defense would get the job done.

This time, the Bills survived the late Houston drive, as Greg Rousseau recorded his second strip-sack of the day by bringing down Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. Terrel Bernard recovered the loose ball, giving the Bills a thrilling triumph in the season opener.

Allen, who also rushed for two touchdowns, now has 303 career touchdowns, making him the first player in NFL history to reach 300 in his first nine seasons. He is also 20th on the all-time rushing touchdowns list, tied with Frank Gore and Otis Anderson and one behind Corey Dillon.

It marked Allen’s ninth career game with two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns, five more than any other player in NFL history, with Steve Young second at four. Since entering the league in 2018, Allen has logged 18 games in which he has rushed for two or more touchdowns.

Speaking with reporters, Allen commented on the team’s decision to keep four tight ends on the roster. “I think you’ll see TEs have to (play FB role).. I think it puts a bind on defenses.. It messes with some rules. Whatever gives us an advantage in the run or pass game.. The 4 TEs we have are very smart and can do what they’re asked to do,” Allen said.

The tight ends tasked with delivering on offense are Dalton Kincaid, Dawson Knox, Jackson Hawes, and Keleki Latu. All four have earned Allen’s full confidence and will play crucial roles around him.

Josh Allen’s ongoing Super Bowl motivation

Allen remains driven by the goal to reach a Super Bowl rather than settling for contender status where big-game pressure has previously taken a toll. For the quarterback, that internal drive extends back to his early football journey.

“Having zero offers out of high school, and still playing with that little chip that I have,” Allen said. “Going into the season, blank slate — we’re all 0-0. It’s a new season. I’m just trying to enjoy this game that I love.”

The Bills continue practice this week, with another session scheduled for Wednesday, as they ramp up toward their season opener against the Houston Texans on September 13.

Coaching staff and front office maintain high expectations

Head coach Joe Brady and the front office also met with the media, projecting strong confidence in the group. Brady, entering his first NFL season as head coach after four years on the Bills’ staff, noted that expectations remain unchanged.

“There’s not a person in this room or this city or wherever that has higher expectations, and I’m always asking them myself,” Brady said. The external pressure comes especially after team owner Terry Pegula pointed to what he called the “proverbial playoff wall” facing the franchise.

“We’ve been a steady contender. We didn’t win the division last year, but we still made the postseason,” general manager Brandon Beane said. “We’re excited about this team and excited about what’s still coming together. I’m not going to sit up here and make any crazy predictions; we haven’t even played a game.”

This is primarily about preserving the players’ health with the regular-season opener just around the corner. The decision was made following last Thursday’s joint practice, where both coaches were able to see the results they were looking for on the field.

The Browns appear to be exploring other options, and at least at the quarterback position, it looks like both Deshaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders will get the chance to play for the Dawg Pound. Slowly but surely, both teams are beginning to finalize the details of what is expected to be a difficult season.

Respect for Deshaun Watson

The Bills and Browns had an interesting joint practice ahead of their preseason matchup, where Josh Allen and Deshaun Watson went head-to-head on the field in Ohio. The two players have known each other for a long time, and that mutual respect was evident in Allen’s words about his colleague.

“Just glad to see him out there,” Allen said to the press. “I know how frustrating that can be to not be out there with your teammates and your brothers and continuing to fight to get back healthy, to get back on the field. And when you get there and then it happens again, so to have that mental resolve. Not a lot of people have that. It’s good to see him healthy again.”

What’s next for the Bills?

The Bills’ preseason debut came against the Carolina Panthers at home, resulting in a 29-14 victory. After their game against the Browns, only one preseason matchup will remain: against the Pittsburgh Steelers at the new Highmark Stadium next Thursday, August 27.

Buffaloes’ first challenges

Being a contender means getting off to a strong start in a season that promises to be highly competitive. Under new head coach Joe Brady, these will be the first challenges facing Bills Mafia starting in Week 1:

• Week 1, at Houston Texans – September 13
• Week 2, vs Detroit Lions – September 17
• Week 3, vs Los Angeles Chargers – September 27
• Week 4, vs New England Patriots – October 4
• Week 5, at Los Angeles Rams – October 12

“Everybody that’s healthy is going to be playing out there on Saturday,” the head coach Joe Brady said Thursday during his press conference regarding Allen‘s status. Number 17 is the team’s biggest star, and his health will allow him to play several snaps.

ESPN and National NFL reporter Cameron Wolfe revealed on X the latest on Bryce Young’s status for this matchup in Orchard Park: “Bryce Young will plan 10-15 snaps today with starters. He’s having his best training camp as a pro, per multiple Panthers contacts.”

With Allen as the top star

Heading into the 2026 NFL season, the Buffalo Bills are determined to maintain their reign as top contenders in the AFC East, driven by the elite leadership and dual-threat prowess of superstar quarterback Josh Allen. Coming off a strong 2025 campaign where they posted an impressive 12-5 record, Buffalo remains focused on making another deep playoff run.

As they fine-tune their roster, the Bills will build momentum through their upcoming preseason matchups, traveling to face the Cleveland Browns on August 22 before returning home to host the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 27.

Carolina looks to pull off an upset

Building off an 8-9 finish in 2025 that saw them capture the NFC South title, the Carolina Panthers enter this campaign all-in on Bryce Young as their centerpiece to elevate the offense to the next level.

While the young franchise quarterback anchors their aspirations, Carolina is working through preseason adjustments—including navigating a hamstring injury sustained by Haynes King against the Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game—as they tune up in remaining exhibition matchups at the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 21 and home against the Houston Texans on August 28.

“We’ve put it in the past. We’ve learned from it,” Allen said during an appearance on the “This Is Football” podcast. “And we’ve been in the playoffs a lot of times in the last however many years I’ve been here now — just continuing to find ways to learn from it. And I think it’s a hard pill to swallow sometimes because we haven’t gotten it done.

“But you knock enough at the door, it’s going to open at some point. And that’s just what we have to keep doing is keep knocking on that door and giving ourselves chances to be in that situation again.”

The 1990s could have represented the ultimate glory for Bills Mafia in terms of championships, but far from that, they still have not been able to lift a Vince Lombardi Trophy. Will this be the season, with Joe Brady as their new head coach, when everything changes?

The Bills’ thorn

The Buffalo Bills have appeared in four Super Bowls in their franchise history, remarkably reaching the championship game in four consecutive years from 1991 to 1994—an NFL record. Unfortunately, despite this historic streak, they were unable to secure a victory, falling to the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, and twice to the Dallas Cowboys.

• Super Bowl XXV (Jan 27, 1991): Buffalo Bills 19, New York Giants 20
• Super Bowl XXVI (Jan 26, 1992): Buffalo Bills 24, Washington Redskins 37
• Super Bowl XXVII (Jan 31, 1993): Buffalo Bills 17, Dallas Cowboys 52
• Super Bowl XXVIII (Jan 30, 1994): Buffalo Bills 13, Dallas Cowboys 30

New year, same goal for the Bills

Josh Allen will once again lead the Bills, who, following Sean McDermott’s departure, will be aiming to be playing in February. With a challenging schedule and several tough opponents awaiting them in 2026, Buffalo is determined to reclaim the AFC East title.

• Week 1, at Houston Texans – September 13
• Week 2, vs Detroit Lions – September 17
• Week 3, vs Los Angeles Chargers – September 27
• Week 4, vs New England Patriots – October 4
• Week 5, at Los Angeles Rams – October 12

“It’s going good,” the former Chicago Bears receiver said, via Katherine Fitzgerald of the Buffalo News. “I mean, it’s gonna be perfect later on, but right now it’s still growing pains.”

After his stint in the Windy City, Moore arrives in Buffalo with the intention of becoming his new quarterback’s top target. All signs point to that happening by Week 1, as the chemistry between the two continues to develop steadily, albeit gradually.

Moore must regain his elite level

Despite coming off a down year with the Chicago Bears in 2025, where he registered a career-low 682 receiving yards on 50 catches but still managed to grab 6 touchdowns, DJ Moore is poised to completely revitalize the Buffalo Bills’ offense in 2026.

The Bills aggressively addressed their desperate need for a proven veteran weapon by executing a blockbuster trade at the start of the league year, sending their 2026 second-round pick (No. 60 overall) to Chicago in exchange for Moore and a 2026 fifth-round selection.

This move sets up a massive offensive boost for Buffalo; not only does Moore excel at destroying man coverage and stretching the field, but he also perfectly pairs with Josh Allen and reunites with Joe Brady, under whom Moore recorded back-to-back 1,100-plus yard campaigns in Carolina.

An intriguing receiving corps for Allen

Josh Allen is going to have some serious fun spreading the ball around this year with a completely revamped targets list. Leading the charge is the aforementioned Moore, while Joshua Palmer slides in as a super reliable, physical weapon on the outside. Add the chemistry he already has with Khalil Shakir working out of the slot, and Allen suddenly has a dynamic, incredibly well-rounded trio ready to make some noise in 2026.

For many fans, the Bills have yet to fully live up to expectations. Despite having an elite talent like Josh Allen at quarterback, the club has been unable to capture ultimate postseason glory, and even GM Brandon Beane is upset about not reaching the Super Bowl yet.

While Allen has been an outstanding asset for the franchise, the weapons at his disposal have often fallen short of the elite standard set by the quarterback. Keon Coleman is well aware of this reality, openly admitting that the 2026 campaign could be his last in Buffalo if he fails to deliver better performances on the field.

“For me, it’s make or break,” Keon Coleman told reporters after Buffalo’s Tuesday OTA session, via ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg. “If you s—, you might not be here, simple as that. I know what I’m capable of. So, if I fall anything short of that, I’m doing myself a disservice and my team.”

The Bills have not taken advantage of recent opportunities

Throughout his tenure in Buffalo, Josh Allen has faced heavy scrutiny for his inability to guide the team to a Super Bowl. Last season, he seemingly had a golden opportunity to make a deep run, yet the signal-caller and his squad failed to capitalize on the situation.

With Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, and Lamar Jackson all missing from the postseason field in 2025, many fans believed the path to the Super Bowl was wide open for Allen. Instead, the Bills failed to live up to expectations, suffering a disappointing Divisional Round loss to the Denver Broncos.

This outcome has only intensified the pressure weighing on Allen. Even with the conference’s premier quarterbacks sidelined, he was unable to lead the Bills to a championship breakthrough, leaving many to wonder whether Buffalo can ever truly become the powerhouse fans believe they are.

The Bills’ key offseason addition that will impact Coleman

Hoping to remedy these offensive struggles, the Bills front office secured the services of a dynamic new weapon this offseason. Buffalo completed a major trade with the Chicago Bears to acquire wide receiver DJ Moore, landing a proven top target for Allen but directly altering the trajectory for Keon Coleman.

Following Moore’s arrival, the wide receiver depth chart has undergone a significant shift. Coleman now finds himself slotted as the WR4, sliding down a spot and making it even more challenging to carve out consistent targets in what is shaping up to be a decisive season for his future in Buffalo.

Reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN, the outside linebacker will now play for the Buffalo Bills on a one-year deal after visiting them last week. Danna is a very good player. While not racking up huge numbers, Danna was also reliable to make key plays for the Chiefs back in the day.

The Bills need that. Their pass-rush has been an issue for quite a while, and while Danna is unlikely to get 10+ sacks, he can get you 5-7 in key moments. The Bills hope that a better defense will take some pressure off of Josh Allen’s shoulders.

The Bills have tried many pass-rushers to no effect

Von Miller and Joey Bosa were huge names that the Bills brought in recent years to bolster their pass rush, and while not bad, they weren’t the difference-makers the Bills thought they could be.

This year, they did the same thing again by signing Bradley Chubb to a three-year, $43.5 million deal. However, now they got Danna too, and recently-drafted TJ Parker out of Clemson. The Bills are hoping at least one of them becomes a threat to opposing quarterbacks.

The Bills have a solid roster to work with

Buffalo strengthened its main needs this offseason. As you can see, the pass-rush has been bolstered. However, Josh Allen also got a major upgrade in his receiving core, as the Bills brought DJ Moore to the team, a certified WR1.

They also used a second-rounder in corner Davison Igbinosun to improve their secondary. All in all, they addressed their main needs in hopes of providing Josh Allen with a roster capable of going to the Super Bowl.